Long Beach Attracts Large Crowds
February 8, 2016
Another Long Beach Expo has come to an end. Expo coordinators did a great job of attracting an increased number of bourse dealers and the public was out in mass as well; this was one of the best Long Beach shows in a long time. It also helped that the metals advanced on a daily basis and continue to do so this morning. Gold is currently at $1,192.50 and Silver is $15.26.

While the market for collector coins continues in a downward cycle, there are lots of dealers offering coins at the new market levels, and there are buyers participating in the bargain hunting. The market is active even if overall prices are lower. This is a good thing for coin buyers, providing an opportunity to add more coins for a fixed amount of outlay.

For the second time in a month, a 1943 Bronze Lincoln Cent was sold by Heritage Auctions. The first was in the FUN Sale in early January; it was from the Philadelphia Mint graded AU58 PCGS CAC and brought $305,500. The Long Beach Sale contained another one, this time from the San Francisco Mint in the same AU58 grade by PCGS with the CAC approval and it realized $282,000. Below is a list of some of the many highlights from this sale. The majority of items sold through the massive Heritage internet list.

1909 $5 Gold Indian PCGS PR67+ CAC sold for $105,750 at the Heritage Auctions Long Beach U.S. Coins Signature Auction in Long Beach, California, February 4-7, 2016

Date/Denomination

Grade

PriceRealized

1794 Large Cent Head of 1795

PCGS MS64+ Bn

$28,200

1916 D Lincoln Cent

PCGS MS67 Red

$58,750

1796 Draped Bust Dime

NGC MS65

$70,500

1844 Seated Dime

PCGS MS66 CAC

$31,725

1857 Seated Dollar

NGC PR66+

$28,200

1876 $1 Gold

PCGS MS66+ CAC

$16,450

1876 $3 Gold

PCGS PR64 Deep Cameo

$52,875

1909 $5 Gold Indian

PCGS PR67+ CAC

$105,750

1911 $10 Gold Indian

NGC MS68

$70,500

1931 $20 Gold St. Gaudens

PCGS MS64

$70,500

In this week’s HD Wholesale Market Dealer Price Guide the tendency is toward lower prices. What has become obvious from monitoring the auctions, dealer price lists, and sales from coin shows, there are more sellers than buyers at current levels, creating the numerous declines that you see listed in most of the charts.

In the Early Halves chart, The 1807 Heraldic Eagle Half Dollar in MS66 has fallen to $81,500 Market, while the 1794 Flowing Hair Half Dollar in XF40 is down slightly to $30,000. There are a handful of declines for Capped Bust Halves although the majority of these dates are sellable at present levels in most grades as long as they have good eye appeal.

Another series that has solid demand is Barber Halves. Even though some of the higher priced rarities have fallen (mostly insignificant declines) since the first of the year due to price sensitivity, there are still buyers looking to add these coins to their collections. The 1892 S in MS66 is down to $7,150 Market and the 1900 S is lower at $11,500 in the same grade. In the last couple of months the Market price for a complete set of MS66 Barber Halves has dropped from $735,175 to the current $692,075, down about 6%.